Dietitian Ellen

Dietitian Ellen Ellen Smartt is a Digestive Health Dietitian who provides education to support Digestive Health.

August in Michigan = peak produce perfection 🍅🍉🌽Here’s what to stock up on at the farmer’s market this month:🍉 Watermelo...
08/01/2025

August in Michigan = peak produce perfection 🍅🍉🌽
Here’s what to stock up on at the farmer’s market this month:

🍉 Watermelon – hydrating + full of antioxidants
🍅 Tomatoes – bursting with flavor + gut-friendly lycopene
🌽 Sweet Corn – naturally low FODMAP + summer staple
🍏 Apples – early varieties rolling in (great for snacking + baking)
🍐 Pears – fiber-rich and perfect for digestion

Eating with the seasons supports your gut, your wallet, and your local farmers 💚

💬 What’s your favorite August produce?

Did you know calcium plays a role in your digestion, not just your bones? 🦴➡️💩⁠While it's well-known for bone health, ca...
07/29/2025

Did you know calcium plays a role in your digestion, not just your bones? 🦴➡️💩
⁠
While it's well-known for bone health, calcium is also essential for proper gut function:
✔️ Supports smooth muscle contractions (aka gut motility!)
✔️ Helps with nerve signaling between the brain and gut
✔️ Plays a role in enzyme release and food movement through the GI tract
⁠
If you’re dealing with constipation or sluggish digestion, low calcium might be part of the picture.

💡 But here's the key: balance matters. Too much calcium (especially from supplements) without enough magnesium can actually slow motility. That’s why food-first is the best approach to ensure you are not causing any imbalances.

👇 Add more calcium-rich foods into your week:
🥦 Leafy greens
🐟 Canned salmon or sardines with bones
🧀 Yogurt + cheese
🫘 Beans + lentils
🌰 Tahini + almonds
🥛 Fortified plant milks
🍊 Oranges
🌿 Tofu
🧅 Figs

Feeling bloated, sluggish, or constipated? Don’t overlook potassium 💥⁠Potassium plays a major role in gut function. Here...
07/27/2025

Feeling bloated, sluggish, or constipated? Don’t overlook potassium 💥
⁠
Potassium plays a major role in gut function. Here is how it supports your digestion:
✔️ Helps regulate muscle contractions in your GI tract (hello motility!)
✔️ Balances fluids and electrolytes for proper enzyme function
✔️ Supports the nervous system and gut-brain signaling
⁠
Low potassium = slow or irregular digestion, more bloating, and that “backed up” feeling!
⁠
Here are some potassium-rich foods to include daily:
🍌 Bananas
🥔 Potatoes + sweet potatoes
🥑 Avocados
🍅 Tomatoes
🫘 Beans + lentils
🍊 Oranges
🌱 Leafy greens
🥥 Coconut water
🐟 Salmon + tuna

Always rely on whole food sources first before supplementing with electrolyte or sports drinks!

Magnesium is one of the most underrated minerals for gut health 💩✨It plays a role in:✔️ Smooth muscle contractions (aka ...
07/25/2025

Magnesium is one of the most underrated minerals for gut health 💩✨

It plays a role in:
✔️ Smooth muscle contractions (aka regular BMs)
✔️ Enzyme production for digestion
✔️ Calming the gut-brain axis
✔️ Reducing bloating and cramping
✔️ Supporting motility and preventing constipation

But many people are low, thanks to stress, poor soil quality, and common GI conditions that affect absorption.

👇 Here are some magnesium rich foods to start adding to your routine:
🥬 Leafy greens
🌰 Nuts & seeds (especially pumpkin + chia)
🍫 Dark chocolate
🫘 Beans + lentils
🍌 Bananas
🥑 Avocado
🥣 Whole grains
🐟 Fatty fish

Aim to include a diverse range of magnesium rich foods in your daily diet for maximum absorption!

You could be eating “clean” but still feel bloated, tired, or constipated… 👀⁠👉 Minerals play a foundational role in gut ...
07/23/2025

You could be eating “clean” but still feel bloated, tired, or constipated… 👀
⁠
👉 Minerals play a foundational role in gut health. They help with everything from stomach acid production to bowel regularity and gut lining support.
⁠
But here’s the kicker: many people are unknowingly low in key minerals due to…
⚡️ Chronic stress
💊 Medications like PPIs or antibiotics
🚽 Gut issues (hello, malabsorption)
🌱 Poor soil quality in our food supply
☕️ Excess caffeine and alcohol

👇Low minerals can show up as:
– Bloating
– Constipation or loose stools
– Low stomach acid or reflux
– Feeling fatigued after meals
– Cravings or dizziness when standing
⁠
The good news? Supporting your mineral status is a powerful, root cause step toward better digestion.
⁠
✨ Inside Flora Gut Foundations, you’ll learn how to rebalance your gut from the inside out that includes mineral support strategies that actually work.
⁠
💻 Learn more by scheduling a discovery call through the link in bio!

🧠 What if your gut health today could influence your brain health tomorrow?More and more research is showing that the gu...
07/19/2025

🧠 What if your gut health today could influence your brain health tomorrow?

More and more research is showing that the gut and brain are deeply connected—and gut issues like inflammation, leaky gut, and microbial imbalance may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Here’s the thing:

You don’t have to wait for symptoms to start to take action.
You can be proactive, and it starts in the gut.

✨ Inside our signature program, Flora Gut Foundations, we will help you:
✔️ Restore balance to your microbiome
✔️ Reduce inflammation at the root
✔️ Support gut-brain communication
✔️ Build a strong foundation for lifelong wellness

➡️ Get ahead of future health issues by getting your gut in check now. with our Flora Gut Foundations program.

Link in bio to learn more & join!

Just because you don’t have bloating, gas, or irregular stools doesn’t mean your gut is thriving.⁠⁠Your gut does so much...
07/17/2025

Just because you don’t have bloating, gas, or irregular stools doesn’t mean your gut is thriving.⁠
⁠
Your gut does so much more than just digest food.⁠
⁠
✨ It supports your immune system⁠
✨ Impacts your mood + mental health⁠
✨ Regulates hormones⁠
✨ Helps detoxify excess estrogen + toxins⁠
✨ Influences skin health and inflammation⁠
⁠
A dysfunctional gut can quietly drive fatigue, brain fog, acne, PMS, and even autoimmune flares, *without classic GI symptoms.*⁠
⁠
Your gut is the foundation of health and it deserves attention.⁠
⁠
🧠 Ready to get to the root?
Join Flora Gut Foundations, our signature gut health course that teaches you how to heal your gut from the inside out.⁠
⁠
🔗 Link in bio for all the details!

Eating "healthy" doesn’t always mean easy on your gut — and that’s okay! 🌿💚Sometimes, foods we think of as “good for us”...
07/14/2025

Eating "healthy" doesn’t always mean easy on your gut — and that’s okay! 🌿💚

Sometimes, foods we think of as “good for us” can actually trigger bloating, cramps, or other uncomfortable GI symptoms. It could be due to:

✔️ Too much fiber too fast
✔️ Sensitivities to FODMAPs like garlic, onions, or beans
✔️ Food intolerances (especially when the gut is already in poor shape)
✔️ An imbalanced gut microbiome
✔️ Large portions or sudden diet changes

Your gut is unique, and what feels “healthy” for one person might not for another. If you’re struggling with symptoms, it’s not about avoiding healthy foods. It’s about discovering what your gut truly needs.

Want help figuring out your personal gut triggers and healing from the root? DM me or check out my Flora Gut Foundations course at the link in my bio to get started!

Think high cholesterol is just about the fat you eat? Think again! 🧠🦠 Your gut health plays a huge role in managing chol...
07/10/2025

Think high cholesterol is just about the fat you eat? Think again! 🧠🦠 Your gut health plays a huge role in managing cholesterol and supporting heart health.

A balanced microbiome helps your body properly process cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and keep your lipid levels in check. But when your gut is out of whack (dysbiosis), cholesterol and inflammation can spike.

The solution? Focus on gut-friendly habits like:
🌾 Eating plenty of soluble fiber-rich foods (oats, beans, fruits)
🥒 Adding fermented foods for beneficial bacteria
🧄 Including prebiotics like garlic and onions
🐟 Supporting with omega-3s and polyphenols

If you’re ready to go beyond surface-level fixes and heal your gut for lasting cholesterol balance, check out my Flora Gut Foundations course—a step by step program to help you uncover and fix your unique gut imbalances.

Link in bio to learn more! 💚

Did you know your gut could be behind your migraines? 😵‍💫👉🦠Migraines aren't just about hormones or skipped meals, but re...
07/06/2025

Did you know your gut could be behind your migraines? 😵‍💫👉🦠

Migraines aren't just about hormones or skipped meals, but research shows a powerful connection between gut health, inflammation, and those pounding headaches.

When your gut is out of balance (hello dysbiosis, leaky gut, or IBS), it can activate inflammatory pathways that trigger migraines through the gut-brain axis.

🧠 Supporting your microbiome with diet, probiotics, and targeted gut care may help reduce migraine frequency and intensity.

Swipe through to learn how the gut and brain are linked and what to do about it.

👇 Want to uncover your specific gut imbalances and heal from the root?

Join Flora Gut Foundations, our course to help you finally get to the bottom of your symptoms with a clear plan forward. Link is on my bio!

🎆 Red, white, and gut-friendly 🇺🇸 These 4th of July Jell-O Cups aren’t just cute they’re made with grass-fed gelatin, wh...
07/02/2025

🎆 Red, white, and gut-friendly

🇺🇸 These 4th of July Jell-O Cups aren’t just cute they’re made with grass-fed gelatin, which supports gut lining integrity, promotes better digestion, and may even reduce bloating.

Gelatin is rich in collagen, glycine, and glutamine which are key amino acids that help strengthen the gut barrier and soothe inflammation.

🧁 How to make them:

❤️ Blend & heat strawberries with water + gelatin
🤍 Warm coconut milk, vanilla, maple syrup + gelatin
💙 Blend & heat blueberries with water + gelatin
Layer each color, chill between layers, and top with berries or coconut whip!

Perfect for BBQs, kiddos, and your gut. ✨

👇 Save this for your weekend prep!

🍓🥬 July in Michigan = peak produce season! From sweet berries to crunchy veggies and juicy summer fruits, nature is lite...
07/01/2025

🍓🥬 July in Michigan = peak produce season! From sweet berries to crunchy veggies and juicy summer fruits, nature is literally serving up what our bodies crave right now: hydration, antioxidants, and fiber.

Eating seasonally is smarter for your gut, your wallet, and your taste buds. 💚

👇 What’s your favorite July fruit or veggie?

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Sand Lake, MI
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